– I’ve writing songs for about 20 years. I’ve tried collaborating on songs with other people with mixed results … Dom Mariani, Kim Salmon. I’m working on a song written for Perth girl garage band, The Dumb Angels.

The only member of The Summer Suns that appears on all of their recordings is you. How come there’s never been steady members?

– I’m “difficult”.

You produced an EP by The Marigolds with Dom Mariani. Have you produced any other bands?

– I don’t see myself as a producer really, but I’ve helped a few bands in the studio with some ideas … Palisades, Stolen Picassos, DM3, Thermos Cardy…

Before House Of Wax you had a record company called Easter – on which the EP by The Marigolds appeared, and various other things by such groups as The Holly Rollers, The Summer Suns, a re-issue of the Scientist’s first album. What other things did you put out?

Why did it all come to an end?

– Easter Records released records by Summer Suns, Marigolds, Kryptonics, Palisades, Stolen Picassos, Charlotte’s Web, German Humor. Easter was a partnership that partnership dissolved. As a record label it wasn’t really appreciated at the time.

Then came House Of Wax Records. What groups have appeared on the label?

– House of Wax has released records/CDs by Summer Suns, Rainyard, Thermos Cardy. And just out The Stems Weed Out live CD.

I have read in the book Let Your Head Rest by George Matzkov that the first incarnation of The SS’s which included you, Dom Mariani and Gary Chambers, only played one gig. Is it true? With other lineups of the band have you played live more regularly?

– The first Summer Suns line up played twice. We were a part time band (all members were in other full time bands), and did one gig plus one record shop “in store” The second line up played quite regularly. Subsequent line ups have played very sporadically.

Do you like playing live or do you prefer to work in the studio? Have you played outside Australia?

Kim Williams– I enjoy playing live. I like the idea of recording but I find the studio bum numbingly tedious.

I also hate rehearsing.

I haven’t played outside of Perth. I’d like to play in Spain Any offers???

You are a great friend of Dom Mariani, aren’t you? Do you intend to keep working together?

– In closing I’d like to say that I’ve thought about retiring from playing and recording music because it’s so hard to find the time to do it properly.

What’s kept me going over the past ten years has been the encouraging fan mail from all over the world. I’d like to take this opportunity to say thanks to everyone who has bought and enjoyed our music.

– Thanks to you Kim…

IÑAKI ORBEZUA
Originally published in Otoño Cheyenne
[Torpedopop 2004-04-07]

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